contouring a tapered shape

[Nastyzen]

Hello guys,

I mainly use MC in 2D. But I have this part to make with tapered walls and a radioused top. I have made something similar in the past but have since lost the file and can't remember how I did it. It was so long ago.

I've been trying to toolpath this thing for a while now and have come to the conclusion that I really need some help...I was going to simply contour ramp down with a 1.25'' fly cutter. HELP PLEASE

I have X5 router level 1 , Material is 304 S/S

4001.MCX-5

 

Thank's

Claude

[Leigh @ Kodiak]

You would need to use the "Swept 2D" path for this in level 1

[Nastyzen]

Good morning all.

Well, try as I may, I can't get a tool path to work on this thing..I looked up all the vid's I could on YouTube on the subject. ARGH!!

What am I doing or not doing correctly??! This tool path won't accept splines. The whole part is made of splines...This should be an easy job.

[Mjölnir]

2d swept will not work on that part, it would create conical radii on the corners. is wireframe -> coons available in mill level one? that would work, even for the blend radii around the top. 

[Nastyzen]

 

 

 is wireframe -> coons available in mill level one? that would work, even for the blend radii around the top. 

 

Nah. Coons is only available in level 2.

[Mjölnir]

you can do everything except the .1 blend between the top and .3 rad corners with wireframe -> ruled, including the .3 rad corners. assuming ruled is available in level one. the .1 blend between the top and .3 rads is a coons or surface path, but if you can mill the material, you can also file it.

[Nastyzen]

Ruled is available. I shall give it a whirl. Yes I could file the rad, but it needs to be more precise than my filing skills can produce : - )      I guess it's time to get an upgrade quote for level 2....

I am going to be doing more of this type of operation this winter.

I shall report on my tribulations later.

 

Thanks a bunch  Sir!

   

[Mjölnir]

for you noobs who never got the pleasure (snerk - lol i snorted) of using early versions of mastercam, that is what using versions 3 & 4 mill level 3 was like. it wasn't until v6 that semi useful surfacing was available.

[htm01]

for you noobs who never got the pleasure (snerk - lol i snorted) of using early versions of mastercam, that is what using versions 3 & 4 mill level 3 was like. it wasn't until v6 that semi useful surfacing was available.

one surface at a time

[Sticky]

I don't think mill level 2 exists anymore?

[Mjölnir]

one surface at a time

 

i used the heck out of coons to do multi-surface machining. i went from using acu-carv to mastercam 3.21 after changing jobs and it was like climbing out of a maserati and stepping into a pedal car.

[jlw™]

Also with mcx5? Post a file, I'm sure you'll get help.

[Nastyzen]

Got my quote back from my vendor...Yikes!! Can't justify that much expenditure unless I get more of these or similar.

Meenwhile I found that lost file of a similar job from way back.

With my Router level 1    2D contour-depth cuts-tapered walls-finish with 2D champfer with a corner rounding mill with ground tip. Problem solved!!

 

Any body got a better solution?